Albatros C.VIII
Albatros Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Albatros C.VIII N was a large German single-engine night bomber biplane of the First World War, developed in 1917 to carry a modest bomb load under cover of darkness on the Western Front.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large two-bay biplane with characteristic Albatros rounded fuselage cross-section |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Large two-bay biplane with characteristic Albatros rounded fuselage cross-section
- Dark finish for night operations with minimal exterior markings
- Significantly larger than standard reconnaissance C-types, with wider-chord wings for bomb load
Larger than a standard Albatros C-type, with the characteristic oval-section plywood fuselage shared across the Albatros family. The biplane cellule has a slight positive stagger. It is distinguished from the C.VII primarily by its greater wingspan and the absence of the observer's gun ring in some configurations.
Specifications
- The Albatros C.VIII has a length of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 155 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed as a dedicated night bomber, the C.VIII N (Nacht — night) was based on the established Albatros C-type reconnaissance airframe but scaled up for a heavier bomb load. It proved severely underpowered, limiting its effective bomb carrying to a relatively small payload. Only a single prototype or very small number of examples are believed to have been constructed, and the type did not enter operational service. It was one of several German attempts to develop a single-engine night bomber alongside more successful programmes.
Variants
The C.VIII designation covers solely the night bomber configuration (suffix N); it is distinct from the C.VI and C.VII which were standard reconnaissance two-seaters.
Where you'll see it
Did not enter operational service with the Luftstreitkräfte. The project was abandoned due to the significant power deficit relative to its intended bomb load.
Related aircraft
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